Lighter.



R. E. WING.

LIGHTER. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 16, 1914.

1,098,604. v Patented June 2, 1914. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN, 16. 1914,

Patented June 2, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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LIGHTER:

I Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed January 16, 1914. Serial No. 812,491.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROY E. WING, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lighters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an electric lighter for gas burners, and more particularlyto that type of burner used in connection with hot water heaters and furnaces.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive electric lighter that .can be easily and quickly installed in connection w1th a gas burner whereby gas emitted by the burner can be ignited from a remote point.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel device for turning on gas, igniting the same, and producing an audible signal that indicates that the device is in proper working order. W-

I attain the above and other objects by a device that has been especially designed for hot water heaters generally located in the basement or cellar of a residence; it being the common practice for a house wife or servant to start the heater when hot water is needed. This practice necessitates a trip to the basement to ignite the gas, -which operation often results in an accident. To eliminate such trips and accidents that may occur when placing a heater in operation is the aim of my invention. With my device installed the operation of a hot water heater can be controlled from any desired point in a residence and by using an audible signal it is possible to determine whether the device is in proper'working order.

My invention will be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein Figurefil is a vertical sectional view of a hot water heater illustrating the electric lighter in connection therewith, and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a thermal alarm or audible sighal in connection With the device.

In describing my invention by aid of the drawings above referred to, I desire to point out that I intend said views as merely illustrative of an example whereby my invention may be applied in practice, and I do Patented June 2, 1914. i

not limit my claims to the precise arrangement and construction of parts indicated. The following description is therefore to be construed broadly as including substitute arrangements and constructions which are the obvious equivalent of those shown.

In the drawing, 1 denotes the shell of a hot water heater having the ends thereof closed by top and bottom plates-2 and 3."

The top plate 2 has an exhaust flue 4 and extendin' through the bottom plate 3 is a gas'supp y pipe 5: The end of the pipe 5 Within the shell 1 has a mixer 6 and a horizontally disposed burner 7, said mixer and said burner being of the ordinary and well conventional form of valve 9 for controlling the supply of gas to the burner 7. Detachably mounted upon the stem 10 of said valve or the operating handle thereof is a sprocket wheel 11 and a radially disposed switch arm 12; The switch arm 12 has a contact point 13 adapted to be swung over a segment shaped bar 14 having equally spaced contact strips 15 and spaced blocks of insulation 16. The elements 12 to 16 inclusive constitute the switch that controls the operation of the lighter and produces a plurality of sparks at the lighter. whereby gas emitted by the burner 7 will-be ignited.

Detachably connected to the burner 7 is a sparking device 17 in the form of a C- 'shaped clamp that is insulated from the burner 7. The C-shaped clamp is retained in engagement with the burner by a set screw 18 and the upper end thereof is provided with an overhanging sparking point nected by a wire 27 to an electric bell 28 or other type of audible signal, and said bell is connected by a wire 29 to the switch arm 12.

Located in proximity to the heater or at some remote point, for instance, in the kitchen or bath room of a residence, is a switch board 30 provided with such designations as off and on. The switch hoard 30 is provided With a revoluble sprocket wheel 31 that is revolved or partially rotated through the medium of a crank 32 having a handle 33. Trained over the sprocket wheel 31 is an endless sprocket chain 34, which passes under an idler 35 in the form of a double sprocket wheel. Trained over the idler 35 and the sprocket wheel 11 of the valve 9 is an endless sprocket chain 36, and it is through the medium of the chains 34 and 36 that movement is imparted to the valve stem 10 from the switch board 30. In some instances, a single sprocket chain can be employed for transmitting movement to the valve stem 10, while in other instances a plurality of sprocket chains may be necessary to accomplish the desired results.

Before considering the construction illustrated in Fig. 2, it is thought best to rehearse the operation of the device just de scribed.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the valve 9 is closed and the electric circuits are open. Byswinging the crank 32' from the ofi' designation to the on designation, movement is imparted to the valve stem 10 to open the valve 9 and admit gas to the burner 7 Simultaneously with the opening of the valve 9 the switch arm 12 is gradually swung over the bar 14 and circuits are established for producing a plurality of sparks at the sparking point 19. The sparks ignite the gas emitted by the burner 7 and simultaneously with the circuit being completed through the sparking device 17 a circuit is completed through the electric bell 28 whereby the operator of the switch board is aware that the electric lighter is in proper working order.

In Fig. 2 there is illustrated a lighter that is 01: "rated on the same principle as the device shown in Fig. l, but the electric bell 28 is mounted on the switch board 30 and is in circuit with a thermal device located at the upper end of the hot water heater. Mounted transversely of the upper end of the shell 1 is a tube 37 that has one end thereof ex-' tendin into the wall of the shell 1 and the opposite end thereof engaging the opposite wall of the shell. Arranged longitudinally of the tube 37 is a rod 38 that has one end thereof protruding from the open end of the tube 37 and the opposite end thereof secured to the wall of the shell 1, as at 39. The rod 38 is susceptible to the action of heat and its expansion and contraction controls the electric circuit through the bell 28. 'lhe outer end of the rod '38 is adapted to contact'with and shift a switch arm 30 pivotally supported by a bracket 11 connected to the shell 1 and suitably insulated therefrom. The upper end of the switch arm 40 has an off-set portion 42 connected by a coiled retractile spring 43 to the shell 1, whereby the lower end of the switch arm will be held normally out of contact with a switch plate 4 1 supported by the shell 1 and suitably insulated therefrom. The switch arm 40 and the switch plate 1d are in circuit with a suitable source of electrical energy and the bell 28, whereby a circuit can be completed for operating the bell to notify the operator at the switchboard 30 that the gas emitted by the burner 7 has been ignited to heat the water within the coil 8. A switch is mounted on the switchboard 30 to control the operation of the bell 28, whereby the hell can be cut out after having served its purpose.

In connection with the device illustrated in Fig. 1, there is nothing to indicate a low pressure of gas or that the supply of gas has been completely shut off, consequently there is a possibility of the device being placed in operation without sufiicient gas to maintain a flame. With the valve 9 open, gas would escape from the burner 7 when the initial supply was turned on, and as a consequence, someone might be asphyxiated or an explosion occur upon investigation by again operating the device. This is impossible in connection with the device illustrated in Fig. 2, as the operator remains at the switchboard 30 until the electric bell is operated, thus indicating the gas is ignited and thatthe hot water heater is properly working. Should the bell fail to ring, the operator at the board 30 turns ofi the device to investigate as to the causes of in-operativeness.

What I claim is 1. In an electric lighter, the combination with a hot water heater, a gas burner in the lower part thereof, a gas supply pipe in communication with said burner, and a suitable source of electrical energy, of a sparking device detachably connected to said burner and in circuit with said source of electrical energy, a valve carried by said gas supply pipe, a switch operatable in unison with said valve for controlling the electric circuit through said sparking device, an audible signal in circuit with said source of electrical energy, a thermal device in the upper end of said heater and in circuit with said source of electrical energy and adapted to close the circuit through said signal when gas is ignited by said sparking device, and means for operating said valve.

2. In an electric lighter, the combination with a water heater, a gas burner in comsaid burner and connected to said induction coil, a thermal device in connection with said heater, an audible signal: in circuit With said induction coil and said device and adapted to be operated-by a 10 circuit completed by said thermal device,

and means for simultaneously controlling the supply of gas to said burner and the circuit in connection with said sparking device.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ROY E. WING.

I Witnesses:

ANNA M. Donn, G. MGGRANN. 

